June 15 - 23, 2015 ::: Rouses Point, into Canada, the Richelieu (Chambly Canal, Saint Ours Canal) St. Lawrence, Montreal

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Three good days at Rouses Point Gaines Marina (NY) and SONATA was underway again for points North.  After departing the marina we passed under the Vermont Bridge and into Canada.  First stop was the Canadian Customs building where we were greeted by two agents.  A few routine questions, presented the USCG title documents to the agents, and we had our clearance to proceed.  The Canadian courtesy flag was raised and North we continued.

 

First Canadian bridge was a railroad bridge; three whistles and a quick opening and passage.  Shortly thereafter a nest with two eagles on our starboard beam wished us well and North we proceeded through the Chambly Canal and Bridge 12.

Through a swing bridge and a brief tie-up on the lock wall  while we waited for a Southbound trawler to exit Lock 9, we then entered the lock and prepared our lines

SONATA secured in the lock, a short wait for the lock to drain and take us down, exit out of the lock into the channel and then through a field of buoys. Which way do we go!  Something apparently sank here and the channel was narrowed by buoys so SONATA could safely transit and continue the Chambly Canal.

A different type of bridge to pass under, into the channel again, a glance to the right to see the rapids that we are avoiding (could not go through) by going through the canal, what is believed to be the narrowest part of the canal (some 23 feet wide, the Cul de sac), then another stop to let two southbound boats to pass as they come out of the lock.

The locking procedure is rather simple.  The lock doors are closed, the chamber filled, SONATA enters . . . then the drain doors are opened, Bonnie is examined (?!?), the doors are opened and we exit,  then look back at the Locks 1-2-3 that we just stepped down to complete the Chambly Locks.

The first night in Chambly we had a wonderful dinner in town just near the dock.  The next day was to be very windy so we decided to stay put and wait until the winds calmed.  The morning of the 19th a Sea Ray and a sail boat were to share the locks southbound . . . a tight squeeze.  SONATA moved down the canal to the Saint Ours Lock and another overnight on the lock wall. 

 

SONATA departed Saint Ours Lock at about 0500 so that we could get to Montreal at a reasonable time.  Our initial speed with the current behind us was over 9.7 kts . . . on one occasion got as high as 10.1 kts (which was great fun for us as we normally travel at 8 kts).. our slowest speed was some 2.5 as we were 3/10 of a mile from the marina.  We passed ocean shipping, calm waters, church steeples and around 1300 arrived in Montreal and tied up to the North wall just beside the dockmaster's office at Port d' Escale Marina .  A  great day on the water  and nice trip.

Sunday evening ... oops, not Sunday evening, Monday morning at about 0100 in the rain, with everyone tired ... Brandi and Taylor arrived by taxi from the Montreal airport.  May the welcome begin . . . after some sleep! (this is Brandi here...as you can see, we were happy to have our picture taken in the rain and after an especially challenging cab ride where the driver COULD NOT find our destination!!  Way to go MOM!!!)

 

 

St Joseph's Oratory

 

 

 

Rue de St Paul

 

Olympic Park

 

 

 

 

We have had a wonderful time in Montreal.  We have eaten at Papillon, at Chez Suzette for "S'mores" crepes, some beavertails, ice cream, bicycle rides (and walks) to Atwater ("a long dang way, 19,580 steps"); and when we returned to SONATA we were surprised to see the vessel moored just across from us.

BAZINGA  is a 100 foot long yacht that, for the last several years, has been berthed at Ocean Marine in Portsmouth, near SONATA.  As we returned from a Grey Line tour of Montreal we walked past the vessel and met the owners John and Helen Wilson from Chicago.  BAZINGA had traveled from Ocean Marine to Nova Scotia and from the mouth of the St. Lawrence to Montreal.  The Wilsons are on their way home to Chicago. BAZINGA and SONATA will depart Montreal together in the a.m. for the Lambert Lock and the St. Catherine Lock. BAZINGA will then continue down the St. Lawrence to Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan to Chicago . . . SONATA will follow a separate route to the Saint Anne de Bellevue Lock, the Ottawa River, Ottawa, the Rideau Canal, the Trent-Severn Canal . . . then to Chicago through the Georgian Bay, North Channel, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan.